It’s been another tough day for American airline passengers, to put it mildly.
As of 5:50 p.m. ET Friday, more than 1,300 flights had been canceled in the US. later, according to reported flight. Some of Friday’s problems could be due to planes not being able to make their first morning flights after Thursday’s cancellations.
American Airlines canceled more than 240 of its flights, about 7% of its schedule, not including flights operated by its regional affiliates.
Republic Airlines, a regional airline that operates under the American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express brands, in addition to operating some of its own flights, also had more than 240 cancellations or 24% of its schedule for Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration implemented delay programs at airports from Boston to Atlanta on Friday night and warned that overnight delays are likely and could extend to Florida as well. Western airports are also being affected by the weather.
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Summer squeeze for the aviation network
Overall, it has been a frustrating summer for passengers as airlines cut schedules and airports, but in the US and abroad fight to cope with the growing demand for travel.
Early in the pandemic, airlines downsized as people stayed home. But with restrictions lifted, people are traveling this summer like it’s 2019 all over again, and carriers say they don’t have enough people on their lists to fly at the times they planned.
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That has led to many airlines – American, UnitedDelta and JetBlue among themselves, to announce cutbacks and even end service to some smaller cities.
Experts say it could take up to a year for things to normalize.
What are you entitled to if your flight is canceled?
If your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel on a new itinerary, the Department of Transportation requires your airline to give you a refund, even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket.
In case of delay, the rules are a bit more confusing. The DOT says passengers are entitled to compensation if a “significant” delay occurs, but the department has not yet defined what is considered significant.
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Ultimately, that means that for now, it’s up to individual airlines to decide how and when to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed.
The DOT announced earlier this week that they are plans to clarify those rules and make them more consumer friendly. On Wednesday, the agency opened a portal for public comments about updates to its cancellation and delay compensation regulations.